To View E. coli results: Click here
To View Swim Guide: Click here
To learn more about the risk of E.coli bacteria: Click here
CSC Note: 06/05/2025 E.coli Testing
On Thursday 5 June, LJEA obtained water samples from the following locations in Lake James:
- Lake James State Park Catawba Swim Area,
- Linville Boat Ramp,
- North Fork Cove below the mouth of the North Fork
Water samples taken near the surface at all these locations had E.coli concentrations well below the Advisory level. North Fork Cove had the highest level, still less than 33% of the Advisory level.
Our LJEA intern is performing a study that compares samples taken from the water without and with disturbance of the local sediment. We note that North Fork Cove had E.coli levels over 10 times the Advisory level when the sediment was disturbed. This reinforces the standard advice to avoid swimming and wading in turbid water and to wash your hands and rinse off in clean water immediately after exiting a stream or lake.
Water samples were also collected from the North Fork above Lake James, the Catawba River at Greenlee Park, and Forsyth Creek downstream of Plantation Drive. All three of these sites had E.coli concentrations well above the Advisory level. Samples taken after sediment disturbance were even higher.
LJEA's Water Quality Monitoring Activity
We will continue bacteria monitoring throughout the summer to support the State Park and Catawba Riverkeeper's Swim Guide program. An LJEA intern is doing additional bacteria monitoring as a small research project. Beyond that, LJEA's Community Science Committee is following up on some of the sediment testing and have about a dozen additional stream assessments and macroinvertebrate sampling and analyses to complete. Of course, LJEA's monthly chemical sampling program continues.
